What do you think?
Rate this book
My Marriage Sabbatical: A Memoir of Solo Travel and Lasting Love
A vibrant, honest, and unique travel memoir for readers who think they’re too old to “eat, pray, love,” My Marriage Sabbatical captures marital therapist Leah Fisher’s journey to maintain her marriage without forfeiting her own independence.
She wants to travel the world; he wants to keep working. At sixty, Leah Fisher is ready to Love, Honor, and Negotiate. The result is a long-married couple’s decision to commence an unconventional experiment.
Fisher takes readers on two an intriguing global journey—her year of solo travel—and the relational journey she and her husband embark upon as they skillfully negotiate their different priorities and preferences. We accompany them through a series of reunions and poignant farewells as they stay connected and gradually grow comfortable being together and apart. After the marriage sabbatical is over, both spouses are surprised by the outcome of their daring experiment.
With gray divorce on the rise, Leah Fisher’s memoir demonstrates a creative way to fulfill individual needs without having to make the painful choice between forfeiting heartfelt dreams or leaving one’s marriage to achieve them. A riveting travel story that offers wise guidance on maintaining marital friendship, My Marriage Sabbatical is proof that couples can keep growing as individuals and partners all through their lives.
She wants to travel the world; he wants to keep working. At sixty, Leah Fisher is ready to Love, Honor, and Negotiate. The result is a long-married couple’s decision to commence an unconventional experiment.
Fisher takes readers on two an intriguing global journey—her year of solo travel—and the relational journey she and her husband embark upon as they skillfully negotiate their different priorities and preferences. We accompany them through a series of reunions and poignant farewells as they stay connected and gradually grow comfortable being together and apart. After the marriage sabbatical is over, both spouses are surprised by the outcome of their daring experiment.
With gray divorce on the rise, Leah Fisher’s memoir demonstrates a creative way to fulfill individual needs without having to make the painful choice between forfeiting heartfelt dreams or leaving one’s marriage to achieve them. A riveting travel story that offers wise guidance on maintaining marital friendship, My Marriage Sabbatical is proof that couples can keep growing as individuals and partners all through their lives.
- GenresMemoir
256 pages, Paperback
Published January 7, 2025
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 31, 2025
Honest, vulnerable true account of a surprising experiment.
OK I’ll admit it. There’s a little curious voice inside of me that dove into this book wondering, “What’s this about? Maybe I could. . “ because I think many married couples meander in the territory of what it would be like to be temporarily decoupled. This gem of a memoir gives an inspiring response. It’s an honest, vulnerable true account of a year in which the author traveled while her spouse remained at home working (joining her from time to time), ultimately enriching and deepening their relationship. Look at this itinerary: Costa Rica, Guatemala, Bali, Columbia, Cuba. Sights, sounds, people come alive in Fisher’s colorful descriptions. I was captivated.
OK I’ll admit it. There’s a little curious voice inside of me that dove into this book wondering, “What’s this about? Maybe I could. . “ because I think many married couples meander in the territory of what it would be like to be temporarily decoupled. This gem of a memoir gives an inspiring response. It’s an honest, vulnerable true account of a year in which the author traveled while her spouse remained at home working (joining her from time to time), ultimately enriching and deepening their relationship. Look at this itinerary: Costa Rica, Guatemala, Bali, Columbia, Cuba. Sights, sounds, people come alive in Fisher’s colorful descriptions. I was captivated.
March 23, 2025
Leah Fisher's memoir, My Marriage Sabbatical, is a well written and profound account of her year-long, solo journey of self-discovery. Fisher, a psychotherapist, married for decades, negotiates with her husband who decides he'd prefer to stay home working while she pursues her lifelong dream of travel. Fisher embraces her adventures navigating new surroundings and cultures in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Columbia, Bali, Indonesia, and Cuba, with a spirit of fun, curiosity, insightfulness, and empathy for people she meets along her path. An inspiring and hard-to-put-down story that looks for the deeper meaning in life, while encouraging us all to be honest with ourselves, brave, and flexible enough to allow individual freedom and the pursuit of dreams from our life partners which can lead to a deeper, loving, long, and happy marriage.
January 30, 2026
Leah Fisher, in her insightful new memoir, My Marriage Sabbatical: A Memoir of Solo Travel and Lasting Love, shows us just how a break and some travel, while getting centered and refocused, could be just the ticket for later in life. Especially when times are hard and one is questioning one’s commitment and trying to lay claim to one’s own agency.
The book opens with a harrowing scene. The author, facing marital ennui, mourning the death of her father, and missing the kids who’ve now flown the coop, is not coping with these events as well as she’d like. This will ultimately lead to her decision to take a break from her marriage. Her husband, Charley, is not a bad egg by any means, but he does have some pretty blatant double standards, as we will come to discover later on. In any case, he is stunned and clearly upset, but he doesn’t stop her, and she moves out for a month to share a Berkeley house with two single women, a yoga teacher/massage therapist and a nonprofit philanthropy worker.
Eventually, the sabbatical leads to an extended set of travels around the globe. At one point, she even has an Ayahuasca experience in Ecuador, and it is movingly recounted. As someone who writes about psychedelics, I found it very relatable, as many are discovering the powerful healing and learning opportunities hidden in plant medicines. It’s around this time that Charley verbalizes the double standard:
I’m sure. For one thing, it would only happen out of town. And I would be completely up front about our situation, so there would be no confusion… I wouldn’t be comfortable if you had sex with someone else while we’re apart. I know it’s not fair, but that’s how I feel.
I found the chapter on Cuba especially poignant, for here we see Fisher coming into her own, dealing not with symbolic, but very real problems, and questioning the role of the US: “Our long US embargo makes no sense in a post-communist world and will surely be lifted soon.”
I’d like to hope so.
In the end, we see how a heterodox approach to marital problems and a feeling of grief and stagnation may, in the end, turn out to be exactly what the doctor ordered. Fisher’s book deals with the big questions, and some are left for the reader to negotiate for themselves. How do you honor your own needs and unlived dreams while still honoring your partner and the partnership, and what boundaries keep that bond intact when you try something unconventional?
It takes courage to ask the big questions, and Fisher, in My Marriage Sabbatical, does not balk, giving us a memoir that proves that sometimes, the best solution is the one few people ever consider.
The book opens with a harrowing scene. The author, facing marital ennui, mourning the death of her father, and missing the kids who’ve now flown the coop, is not coping with these events as well as she’d like. This will ultimately lead to her decision to take a break from her marriage. Her husband, Charley, is not a bad egg by any means, but he does have some pretty blatant double standards, as we will come to discover later on. In any case, he is stunned and clearly upset, but he doesn’t stop her, and she moves out for a month to share a Berkeley house with two single women, a yoga teacher/massage therapist and a nonprofit philanthropy worker.
Eventually, the sabbatical leads to an extended set of travels around the globe. At one point, she even has an Ayahuasca experience in Ecuador, and it is movingly recounted. As someone who writes about psychedelics, I found it very relatable, as many are discovering the powerful healing and learning opportunities hidden in plant medicines. It’s around this time that Charley verbalizes the double standard:
I’m sure. For one thing, it would only happen out of town. And I would be completely up front about our situation, so there would be no confusion… I wouldn’t be comfortable if you had sex with someone else while we’re apart. I know it’s not fair, but that’s how I feel.
I found the chapter on Cuba especially poignant, for here we see Fisher coming into her own, dealing not with symbolic, but very real problems, and questioning the role of the US: “Our long US embargo makes no sense in a post-communist world and will surely be lifted soon.”
I’d like to hope so.
In the end, we see how a heterodox approach to marital problems and a feeling of grief and stagnation may, in the end, turn out to be exactly what the doctor ordered. Fisher’s book deals with the big questions, and some are left for the reader to negotiate for themselves. How do you honor your own needs and unlived dreams while still honoring your partner and the partnership, and what boundaries keep that bond intact when you try something unconventional?
It takes courage to ask the big questions, and Fisher, in My Marriage Sabbatical, does not balk, giving us a memoir that proves that sometimes, the best solution is the one few people ever consider.
June 2, 2026
My Marriage Sabbatical: A Memoir of Solo Travel and Lasting Love is a reflective and engaging memoir that explores marriage, independence, and personal growth through the lens of an unconventional decision to separate temporarily in order to rediscover individuality within a long-term relationship.
One of the most compelling aspects of the book is its central premise: the idea that a strong marriage does not have to eliminate personal freedom. Instead, the author presents an alternative model where space, travel, and autonomy can actually strengthen emotional connection rather than weaken it.
The narrative balances two parallel journeys—the author’s solo travel experiences and the evolving emotional dynamics within her marriage. This dual structure gives the memoir both outward movement and inward reflection, making it as much about self-discovery as it is about partnership.
A key strength of the book is its honest exploration of negotiation and communication in long-term relationships. The couple’s willingness to experiment with unconventional solutions feels grounded and realistic, rather than idealized, which adds depth to their story.
The travel elements also bring a sense of vibrancy and exploration, offering readers a glimpse into how physical distance can sometimes create emotional clarity. These experiences are not just scenic but tied directly to personal insight and relational growth.
Overall, this is a thoughtful and refreshing memoir for readers interested in relationships, personal freedom, travel, and alternative approaches to sustaining love over time.
One of the most compelling aspects of the book is its central premise: the idea that a strong marriage does not have to eliminate personal freedom. Instead, the author presents an alternative model where space, travel, and autonomy can actually strengthen emotional connection rather than weaken it.
The narrative balances two parallel journeys—the author’s solo travel experiences and the evolving emotional dynamics within her marriage. This dual structure gives the memoir both outward movement and inward reflection, making it as much about self-discovery as it is about partnership.
A key strength of the book is its honest exploration of negotiation and communication in long-term relationships. The couple’s willingness to experiment with unconventional solutions feels grounded and realistic, rather than idealized, which adds depth to their story.
The travel elements also bring a sense of vibrancy and exploration, offering readers a glimpse into how physical distance can sometimes create emotional clarity. These experiences are not just scenic but tied directly to personal insight and relational growth.
Overall, this is a thoughtful and refreshing memoir for readers interested in relationships, personal freedom, travel, and alternative approaches to sustaining love over time.
February 14, 2025
This memoir about an unusual and productive arrangement in a marriage threatened with staleness is a breath of fresh air. Leah Fisher is a child of the early 60’s, thwarted in her desire to join the Peace Corp, eager to travel, hopeful of making an impact on the world. Her husband Charley is a charming partner but focused on his psychiatric practice to the exclusion of his wife, children, and the close-knit family life Leah has also always wanted. The children are grown and gone, and despite Leah’s thriving psychotherapy practice she spends too many evenings eating dinner and going to bed alone, while Charley is working fourteen-hour days and attending conferences.
Ditch the marriage? But it is loving and fulfilling when the two are together. And at 60, starting all over seems daunting. Instead Leah decides on a year-long sabbatical, traveling to place she has always wanted to visit, and where she thinks she can make a contribution. Her husband, stunned speechless at first, agrees to the experiment. How both Leah and Charley grow and change during their year apart is the story that unfolds over twelve month and several continents. It is a delightful and hopeful read – especially if the reader is also at a flexion point in his/her life – positive change is always possible!
Ditch the marriage? But it is loving and fulfilling when the two are together. And at 60, starting all over seems daunting. Instead Leah decides on a year-long sabbatical, traveling to place she has always wanted to visit, and where she thinks she can make a contribution. Her husband, stunned speechless at first, agrees to the experiment. How both Leah and Charley grow and change during their year apart is the story that unfolds over twelve month and several continents. It is a delightful and hopeful read – especially if the reader is also at a flexion point in his/her life – positive change is always possible!
June 28, 2025
tough one to rate, and I see that I'm a goodreads outlier on the low end. For me it was several books in one, provoking wide range of reactions:
--personal relationship narratives--loss of her Mom, struggle before that with getting her to accept moving to assisted living, and especially dissatisfactions with her marriage to a workaholic and how she and her husband work things out (notably a back-and-forth on whether he could sleep with someone else while she traveled) -- very good, very interesting 4 stars
--intergenerational (esp. her Mom's traumatic early life experiences) and life course stuff -- good, vivid, particularly in recounting her regrets about not coloring outside the lines a bit more as a young woman in college in the early 1960s and not scratching her travel/service itch by joining Peace Corps as a number of her friends did -- 3 stars
but......
--centerpiece of the plot -- voluntourism travelogue of her year (mostly) away in her early 60's -- boring (to me), slightly off-putting white savior vibes. She sounds like an engaging, friendly person who connects easily (particularly with kids -- many extended cute-grandma scenes in various countries are retold) and is interested in the lives of those she meets, so it certainly could have been worse, but this part was not for me -- 1.4 stars and takes up most of the space, so dragged the whole down.
--personal relationship narratives--loss of her Mom, struggle before that with getting her to accept moving to assisted living, and especially dissatisfactions with her marriage to a workaholic and how she and her husband work things out (notably a back-and-forth on whether he could sleep with someone else while she traveled) -- very good, very interesting 4 stars
--intergenerational (esp. her Mom's traumatic early life experiences) and life course stuff -- good, vivid, particularly in recounting her regrets about not coloring outside the lines a bit more as a young woman in college in the early 1960s and not scratching her travel/service itch by joining Peace Corps as a number of her friends did -- 3 stars
but......
--centerpiece of the plot -- voluntourism travelogue of her year (mostly) away in her early 60's -- boring (to me), slightly off-putting white savior vibes. She sounds like an engaging, friendly person who connects easily (particularly with kids -- many extended cute-grandma scenes in various countries are retold) and is interested in the lives of those she meets, so it certainly could have been worse, but this part was not for me -- 1.4 stars and takes up most of the space, so dragged the whole down.
November 29, 2024
“My Marriage Sabbatical” is more than a memoir. Years ago, Leah conceived the concept of an “Annual Couple’s Retreat” which she holds with her partner and taught to appreciative friends and clients. Through this process, she was able to negotiate, plan, and pull off her successful marriage sabbatical. Surprisingly, the book’s “Appendix “ (A Guide to Conducting Your Own Couple’s Retreat ) may have the most significant effect on your own life.
Leah reflects on her long-term marriage from the perspectives of a frustrated spouse, a couple’s therapist, and a senior—experiencing growing contentment with self and partner. She lives her dream through courageous candor and an array of global adventures. The book chronicles a delicious slice of real life—intermingling the importance of taking personal control along with unexpected coincidences that expand and deepen life’s experience. “My Marriage Sabbatical” reads like a novel and carries the wisdom of an expert.
Leah reflects on her long-term marriage from the perspectives of a frustrated spouse, a couple’s therapist, and a senior—experiencing growing contentment with self and partner. She lives her dream through courageous candor and an array of global adventures. The book chronicles a delicious slice of real life—intermingling the importance of taking personal control along with unexpected coincidences that expand and deepen life’s experience. “My Marriage Sabbatical” reads like a novel and carries the wisdom of an expert.
January 29, 2025
An authentic, gorgeous story—reminded me of why I love to read. This is a beautifully written book about a courageous journey and a unique way to honor marriage and independence at the same time. Fisher embarks on an international trip, alone, to fulfill her need for exploration and travel--her husband isn't up for adventure--and to reflect on her loving, decades’ long marriage. As she bumps and glides her way, "solita," from country to country, she wonders about everything she’s seeing and everything she has left behind. I loved going with her, especially her travels to Spanish-speaking countries and the people she met there. But what I loved most was the author’s “voice” and spirt. She's a wonderful guide: gentle, insightful, wise, funny, kind—yet so powerful that a reader will feel empowered and enlightened too. A delightful and deeply moving story that you'll think about long after you turn the last page.
March 4, 2025
Reading the words that danced elegantly and vividly off the page, I felt as if I was journeying with Leah as she fulfilled her life-long dream to travel to other countries to explore and to be of service to others. All the while, using what she learned in her successful career as a marriage therapist, to navigate and create spaciousness (and ultimately a stronger bond) in her own marriage. I found My Marriage Sabbatical to be a beautiful, insightful and inspiring memoir. Leah's words--and her actions--are a true gift. If you're interested in learning about the true meaning of "community service/building bridges across differences", how to negotiate and strengthen a most precious relationship, how to dust off and live a dream that has been in your back pocket for far too long, then My Marriage Sabbatical, by Leah Fisher, is the book for you.
April 11, 2025
I loved this book so much that I read it twice and discovered two different beautiful stories. It gave me a rich and multi-layered experience capturing both the personal journey of an individual and the shared growth within a long-term relationship.
One was of a brave married woman in her 60s following her heart and lifelong dream on a solo adventure of learning and community service in several foreign countries. The second one was a story of a couple in a long term beautiful marriage working on honoring each other’s work and dreams. Finding their own independence and discovering each other again and falling in love again with the person they did so many years ago.
It showed how personal aspirations and deep, lasting love can coexist. The themes of independence, mutual respect, and rediscovering love after many years are powerful and resonate deeply.
One was of a brave married woman in her 60s following her heart and lifelong dream on a solo adventure of learning and community service in several foreign countries. The second one was a story of a couple in a long term beautiful marriage working on honoring each other’s work and dreams. Finding their own independence and discovering each other again and falling in love again with the person they did so many years ago.
It showed how personal aspirations and deep, lasting love can coexist. The themes of independence, mutual respect, and rediscovering love after many years are powerful and resonate deeply.
February 8, 2025
This book is an affirmation of how to live, how to travel and how great life can be when you marry the right person. Leah is bold in her dreams, not wanting to settle into a life defined by her husband's thriving career which sustains him, but often leaves her feeling alone. A marriage therapist herself, Leah decides to find a solution that allows her to fulfill her dream of traveling the world, yet keep their marriage strong. Of course, nothing is a given, and the tension of how they actually manage as she heads off for a year of dream destinations, is what kept me turning the pages until the end. Her experiences in her travels are often extraordinary, occasionally dangerous, and sometimes touching. She is brave, wise and funny, and writes with honesty and grace. This is a book I will forever remember.
February 22, 2025
The ambiguous title of My Marriage Sabbatical, along with the clarifying subtitle, A Memoir Of Solo Travel And Lasting Love, immediately draws readers into “Leah’s” deep-seated need to recreate her thirty-year-old marriage with “Charley,” a need he sympathizes with. Leah satisfies her wish for a deeper family life in her wide-ranging spiritual and moral adventures in South America and Asia. In his regular visits from California, Charley and Leah find that their “lasting love” flowers along with their shared joy in her new friends and new ways of life, ranging from poor and loving children to not-so-poor and worldly wise adults in Ecuador and Costa Rica, Bali and Java, Columbia and Cuba. An inspiring read for people of all ages!
August 8, 2025
Wow! What bravery and adventure that a solo traveler could integrate themselves into the lifestyle of the locals, learn the customs, and make friendships. I am of the nature of herded cattle onto tour buses to visit the next sight fearing for my safety if I strayed. Leah, while on her travels, volunteered after a mudslide and her contribution made a difference to that community. I’m impressed!
As I started the story, I expected her to not see her husband for a year. This was not a story to repair a marriage but to make a marriage work when the parties have different interests. Leah was retired and wanted to travel; her husband wanted to work. This may have strengthened their marriage.
One day, if I find the courage, maybe I'll plan my own sabbatical.
As I started the story, I expected her to not see her husband for a year. This was not a story to repair a marriage but to make a marriage work when the parties have different interests. Leah was retired and wanted to travel; her husband wanted to work. This may have strengthened their marriage.
One day, if I find the courage, maybe I'll plan my own sabbatical.
January 16, 2025
Leah Fisher’s voice is true and warm and funny and wise and shines through every sentence of her wonderful book, My Marriage Sabbatical. Her bravery and integrity are threaded throughout the stories of her travels around the world, as well as the deep and creative (sometimes trying) connection she has with her husband, Charley. Fisher is an honest, bare-truth writer and she delivers the account of her amazing pilgrimage with excellent anecdotes, good humor and incisive commentary. Her stories are filled with exceptional characters and her own delightful playfulness as she meets the heart of every country she visits in its children, its politics and its trauma. Well done!
March 25, 2025
I enjoyed this book from start to finish and candidly had difficulty putting it down. The frankness in some sections surprised me, but it felt very real and very honest at the same time. I loved the detailed descriptions of the many places and people Leah gifted with her kindness and desire to help. It was heartwarming to read the results of her efforts. While there is always more to do in the world, her service without doubt made a difference. It also appears that her travels enriched her soul, her marriage and her family. Ultimately, Leah reminds the reader that caring and kindness are part of a universal language.
November 3, 2024
Leah Fisher’s marvelous break-out memoir begins with a negotiation with her husband signaling a year away from their life together in order to travel on her own and explore the world. This book however is more than a travelogue. The real meat and what drew me in, was being privy to Leah’s personal journey, as she discovers what it means to be alone and free, from the encumbrances of her life defined by work, wife, motherhood, and responsibilities. Told with candor, humor, and wit Leah touches on the relatable, as she reflects on who she and what she wants at this later time in her life.
September 26, 2025
I feel such a connection to this author as we have both loved traveling and meeting people from different countries and cultures. More than that, she took risks, learned, and assisted so many in need. Plus, her story is such a fabulous adventure written so clearly and well. Not only does she show how to make a relationship more rewarding, but proves an older woman can travel safely alone and make good friends along the way.
Next time a meet a woman of any age who hesitates to take the risk of traveling without a partner, I'll say "read this!"
Next time a meet a woman of any age who hesitates to take the risk of traveling without a partner, I'll say "read this!"
May 30, 2025
Just a wonderful read. A senior woman makes several journies alone without her lifelong partner. I especially love the parts where she helps children cope with the aftermath of disaster, such as earthquake or landslide. My own partner read this and loved it, but he isn't on Goodreads. Since he wants to re-read it I'll give this a 6-star rating!
August 5, 2026
Leah and her husband agree that she will spend extended periods of time—months at a stretch—in far flung parts of the world, doing charitable work. I enjoyed the two prongs of this story: Leah's experiences of working with the poor, refugees, and disaster survivors, and the effects her separation from her husband had on their marriage and her sense of self.
December 24, 2025
A fascinating look into an unconventional marriage.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews